Reuters
Dubai

Bahrain has postponed by one month a plan to remove government subsidies on meat.
The plan, which had been due to take effect on September 1, will now be delayed until October on the orders of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifah bin Salman al-Khalifah, state news agency BNA reported late on Tuesday.
A joint committee involving the cabinet and parliament will use the additional time to study data and “discuss all the plausible alternatives and options” related to meat subsidies, BNA added.
Like other Gulf Arab states, Bahrain subsidises goods and utilities including meat, fuel, electricity and water.
The government announced last month that it would remove subsidies on meat from September 1, allowing domestic prices to rise and compensating Bahraini citizens – but not foreigners, who comprise about half of the population of roughly 1.3mn – with cash payments.
Efforts to cut subsidies have run up against opposition in parliament, however, contributing to a six-month delay in passage of this year’s state budget. To break the impasse, the cabinet agreed to consult legislators on subsidy plans.
Bahrain has been examining a range of money-saving measures and the removal of subsidies from meat could eventually be followed by similar action for other goods and services.